Cow parsley displays characteristic rows of ‘white lace’ along roadside verges in spring and was once used in food and medicine.
However, a danger of using this plant as a wild edible is its close resemblance to hemlock (Conium maculatum), a far deadlier species – poisonous and not to be used in food or medicine.
Scientific name
Anthriscus sylvestris
Family
Apiaceae
Botanical description
Small, white flowers appear in umbrella-like clusters upon tall, slightly hairy, hollow stems. The large, pale green to reddish leaves are slightly downy. The unripe fruits are green and turn brown to reddish as they ripen. Thick roots reach up to 2m beneath the earth allowing this plant to spread far and wide.
Photo identification
Status
Native to Europe, north Asia, north and east Africa, India subcontinent; naturalised in North America, Alaska, Canada, New Zealand, and central and southern Africa.
Habitat and distribution
Cow parsley is found growing along roadsides, hedgerows, waste places, woodlands, and meadows, forests.
Entomology
Poisonous lookalikes
Parts used for food
Leaves, stems and roots.
Harvest time
A perennial, flowering April to June.
Food uses
Cow parsley is closely related to chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) with a mildly spicy flavour. The leaves can be used fresh, dried or preserved in salt for future use.
The plant makes an excellent garnish in place of chervil for salads, potatoes and egg dishes.
Fresh or dried cow parsley can be sprinkled as seasoning in soups, omelettes, casseroles, potato and bean dishes.
The young leaves can be cooked as a potherb and the roots are also edible.
For me, the stems are the most delicious part of the plant.
Nutritional profile
Research suggests that cow parsley demonstrates strong antioxidant activity and could have potential as a future health food or supplement.
Recipes
- Cow parsley and garlic mustard sauce
- Spiced cow parsley orange compote
- Sweet pickled cow parsley stems
Herbal medicine uses
Thanks to its poisonous lookalikes, cow parsley was seldom used as a medicinal plant. When it was used as a remedy, this was often for kidney or urinary stones.
Other uses
The plant’s hollow stems were once used as moulds to make candles for the poor.
Safety note
The roots contain toxic compounds that could be dangerous if taken during pregnancy, when breastfeeding, or when used for specific complaints in certain sensitive individuals. Seek medical advice before use.
I will state again as it is of the utmost importance, the greatest danger of using cow parsley as a wild edible is its close resemblance to deadly hemlock.
Do not pick hemlock by mistake – the consequences could be dire! Make sure you know how to identify your wild edibles.
Links
- Edible and medicinal wild plants of Britain and Ireland
- Forage in spring
- Forage in summer
- Forage in autumn
- Travels with plants
References
- Allen, D. E. & Hatfield, G. (2004) Medicinal plants in folk tradition: an ethnobotany of Britain & Ireland. Portland: Timber Press.
- Antal, D. (2010) Medicinal plants with antioxidant properties from Banat region (Romania): a rich pool for the discovery of multi-target phytochemicals active in free-radical related disorders. Analele Universitatii din Oradea, Fascicula Biologie. TOM XVII.
- Couplan, F. (1998) The encyclopedia of edible plants of North America. New Canaan: Keats Pub.
- Wyse Jackson, P. (2013) Ireland’s generous nature: the past and present uses of wild plants in Ireland. St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.